Richard Thacker, DO

President-elect

Richard R. Thacker, DO, MACOI
Dothan, Alabama

Richard R. Thacker, DO, MACOI, is the AOA’s President-elect. He serves as associate dean of Clinical Sciences and associate professor of internal medicine at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) in Dothan, Alabama. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing all four years of clinical education required for osteopathic medical students, while also teaching internal medicine and contributing to faculty development and core curriculum.

Dr. Thacker brings more than three decades of leadership in clinical practice, medical education and advocacy to the osteopathic profession. He has held key leadership roles, including chairman of the Department of Medicine, chief of staff and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Capital Regional Medical Center. He also served as associate medical director of Big Bend Hospice for 15 years and was recognized with the HCA Frist Humanitarian Award in 2015 for his community service and international medical mission work.

He practiced internal medicine for 23 years at Capital Regional Medical Group in Tallahassee, Florida, following service as a National Health Service Corps Scholar at a federally qualified health center in Madison, Florida.

A past president of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA), Dr. Thacker continues to serve on multiple FOMA committees and their Board of Trustees. In 2008, he was named FOMA’s Physician of the Year. His state-level contributions include membership on the Florida Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee and advisory roles through the Department of Health.

Dr. Thacker earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM), where he served as SOMA president and freshman class president. He completed his residency at Delaware Valley Medical Center, where he was chief intern and chief medical resident. He was also honored as Resident of the Year. In 2024, he received the ACOM Student Advocate Award.

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